Government has outlined a comprehensive plan to modernize Ghana’s fisheries and aquaculture sector to boost food security, increase export earnings and create jobs across coastal and inland communities.
Speaking during the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, said the reforms would reposition the sector as a key contributor to national economic growth.
He said the passage of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), represented a major milestone, providing a unified legal framework that prioritises sustainability, biodiversity conservation and active community participation.
Dr Forson announced that beginning 2026, the government would introduce new regulations governing vessel licensing, aquaculture operations, surveillance systems and post-harvest handling to strengthen compliance and ensure responsible exploitation of fisheries resources.
He reported significant progress in strengthening fish health systems, noting that regional laboratories in Kumasi, Ho and Koforidua had been upgraded, while a new Aquatic Animal Histopathology Laboratory had been established through a partnership between the Fisheries Commission and the Veterinary Services Directorate.
“The University of Ghana’s WACCBIP has also been enhanced to support molecular diagnostics for early disease detection and reinforce our national biosecurity framework. Cabinet has approved Ghana’s first Marine Protected Area at Greater Cape Three Points in the Western Region,” he said.
The Minister explained that the establishment of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) would safeguard critical marine ecosystems, protect fish habitats and support livelihoods that depend on sustainable coastal resources.
He added that government had finalised a National Blue Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan to unlock opportunities within the ocean economy.
“The strategy will guide the sustainable use of marine and aquatic resources, strengthen climate resilience and position Ghana as a regional leader in ocean governance, consistent with SDG 14,” he said.
On reducing post-harvest losses, Dr Forson said construction had begun on modern fish markets in Dambai in the Oti Region and Shama in the Western Region. Each facility will include cold storage, processing and packaging units, ice-making machines, sanitation facilities, health and child-care posts, and security stations.
He further noted that the Ghana National Fisheries College at Anomabo would be fully operationalised to commence academic activities in the 2026–2027 academic year, supporting capacity-building and innovation within the fisheries workforce.
